Seismicity and seismotectonic study of the Kermit Seismic Zone, Texas

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Geol. Surv. Open-File Rep. (U.S.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6004105

Keller, G R; Rogers, A M; Lund, R J; Orr, C D

This work presents and summarizes all data that were collected during the operation of a 12-station seismograph network in the vicinity of Kermit, Texas, during the period December 1975 to September 1979. The results of this study have several implications relating to the seismic hazard at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) facility. First, the widespread occurrence of small earthquakes within the seismic network area suggests that additional microearthquake studies in regions closer to the WIPP site are warranted. Second, the apparent relation between hydrocarbon production and earthquake occurrence indicates that the WIPP site probably should not be included in the same seismic source region as the central basin platform because the WIPP site is isolated from the major hydrocarbon producing zones. Third, the maximum magnitude of earthquakes in the active zone may be limited, if these earthquakes are in fact induced by secondary hydrocarbon recovery operations, because the spatial extent of artificial pressure increases is limited, and increase of more than 70 bars have resulted in earthquakes with magnitudes consistently less than 4.0. 14 references.

• OSTI ID: 6004105
• Journal Information: Geol. Surv. Open-File Rep. (U.S.); (United States), Vol. 81-37
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
58 GEOSCIENCES
EARTHQUAKES
HAZARDS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
TEXAS
SEISMICITY
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
SEISMIC WAVES
TECTONICS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WELL LOGGING
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
RECOVERY
SEISMIC EVENTS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WELLS
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
580201 - Geophysics- Seismology & Tectonics- (1980-1989)